Life is all about choices and attitude. Make the right choices, keep a positive attitude-- and you will find JOY through all of your ups and downs. Hope you enjoy my thoughts!

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My JOYFUL REFLECTIONS header picture is a picture taken on 10/20/16 on our visit to the Biltmore House and Gardens in Asheville, North Carolina. I had never seen so many different colors of Poinsettias before... These HOT Pink ones were gorgeous.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

July Backyard Birds

I've been home from our trip since June 28 -----and I'm just now doing a "Bird Blog".... What's up with that?????? ha ha..... WELL, first of all, I put all of my bird seed and feeders AWAY for the 3 weeks we were gone...(I knew that the raccoons would get them the first day or two anyhow!) SO---when we got home, I had a little fear that the birds would forget me and NOT come back. Many people had assured me that they WOULD return --but I wasn't totally sure. Guess what though????? They did return!!!! Yeah!!!

SO---since I know you are yearning for one of my famous bird blogs (GAG), I am going to show you some of my sweeties who posed for the camera this week... Above is one of my good buds, a PILEATED WOODPECKER. We have 3 of them --who flit around the trees in the backyard --taking turns at the suet feeder... SO CUTE!!!!

Next is another favorite woodpecker of mine, our NORTHERN FLICKER. This one is a female since she doesn't have a mustache.

Here's a regular visitor also, and is our tiniest woodpecker, the DOWNY. I think she was the first one back to the feeders when I put them up on June 29. It's as if she was 'watching'... She does not have a little red spot on the back of her head like the males do.

Another frequent visitor is one of our noisy BLUE JAYS. They are pretty birds and are with us except during the winter... I don't know where they go ---but they leave my home! Male and female Bluejays are VERY similar in appearance.

Always a favorite, the AMERICAN CARDINALS frequent our area --and they were happy to see me come home I'm sure. They have been busy (like most of our birds) having babies. They are the first birds at the feeders early in the morning and the last ones to come at night.
Above is Daddy Cardinal ---and he looks a little bedraggled since I took his picture after a rain storm. He also is beginning to molt. BUT--he's still a beautiful little bird. Wonder what that is in his mouth???? Looks like a green leaf....?????

More colorful summer beauties are our GOLDFINCHES. We have had many Goldfinches around this summer. This one is a female ---as she is duller than the males and doesn't have black on her head.

This little beauty, one of our MOURNING DOVES, loves to 'take over' the big plate feeder ---and protect it from other birds. They are at the feeders in the late evenings more than any other time of day. The plate feeder is close to our door--and I was taking the picture JUST inside the door. He was 'watching' me --but didn't fly away when I got so close. The males have a blue head/nape and the females have a brownish gray head/nape.

Finally, here is one more CUTIE PIE for you...

WHOOPS----how did this one get in this blog post?????? Goodness Gracious.... Maybe I will name her a "DEER-BIRD"... ha ha ha..... (Just couldn't resist putting this one in for you... She was having a staring contest with me when I took this picture recently.... I was telling her to stay away from our Lilies and Roses!!!! Think she will listen??????)

Hope you enjoyed seeing some of my little Cuties....

Remember NOT to miss my blog post on Friday.... It's one which will probably make you say "WOW"... At least I hope so!!!!!

49 comments:

your deer bird looks just like the ones here in FL. we have cardinals and jays and doves, but the little yellow one i have never seen. glad your bird friends returned, i know how much you love watching them. and no, the deer bird will not listen to you for sure

Boy I wish I had some of those deer birds.I never thought about it but you must hate seeing them close to your house with all those flowers. I would probably sleep outside with a water hose in my hand. Stay cool. We are getting a break this week with just mid to high nineties. Jacket weather.

I thought the green thing in the cardinal's mouth was a bug too--maybe a katydid or something similar. Great pictures, Betsy. I love the one of the deer. Looks like she'd be pretty good at a staring contest. :D

Because of you (and some friends on fb) I got a bird feeder too. However mine is more decorative then functional which has made for some fun bird watching. Especially when the large birds try to get on it to eat. What I've notice is the little birds will knock out the seed to the larger birds that are on the ground waiting. Makes me wonder if they have a pack thanks to my bird feeder :o/

These are lovely shots, Betsy! And what a great selection of birds. Here in Vancouver, we also get the Finches and Woodpeckers at our suet, but it is the big Stellers Jays that want to get at it the most! When we emigrated to Canada, I grew very gond of the Cardinals in Ontario, but unfortunately they are not native to the West Coast.

LOVE the little surprise you gave us at the end! Oh, the dove picture, I adore it! We have many here, but for some reason, I have not been able to get a decent picture in two years! I'm working on it! I love the way you captured the blue jay's bright tail! When we put the suet out, a cake is gone in one day! I have two suet feeders, but we may have to stop putting suet out, except in the winter, it will just be too expensive now. We found a mother grackle sitting on the pole feeding her baby the suet, darling! But the flock of starling have found it now, and seem to gobble a cake a day. I will hate to get rid of it, but maybe for now! Plus something keeps taking the whole cage off the hook and dumping it on the ground.

I cannot imagine you having anything more beautiful than what you share each day. I will certainly tune in Friday and check it out. I wish I had birds like that here. Have lots of trees, but no pretty birds.

Betsy, your resident birds are so faithful with you, and they are so beautiful just like your photos. They know you love them, so they will always come back. The deer feels that, so it will come back too! haha!

Hi Betsy, Got a tiny bit of rain a few moments ago with a lot of noise from the Cicadas! I am so crazy about your pictures! I just love those woodpeckers!!! Your four footed friend is wonderful, too! Have the best Friday!

If I am a bird, I would definitely visit your home everyday because I will be well fed by a kind photographer too. You have taught me to love the waterfalls, canyons, flowers, birds and now a deer. Thank you Betsy.

I am starting to recognize some of the birds now before reading the names because of following your blog! Of course, the deer should be included. They are part of your backyard nature. Their faces are so sweet - - - even if those faces like to munch on your pretty flowers.